Now that the joyful flurry of midnight courthouse weddings that immediately followed the legalization of same-sex marriage in Florida is over, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is throwing a massive group wedding celebration on the beach in front of the W Hotel on Thursday, February 5th, at sunrise, to welcome the world to what may be the best wedding location imaginable for LGBT couples and their guests.

UPDATE on May 25, 4:45 p.m.: Mayor Trantalis met today with the city manager and city staff to discuss the recent decision they made to not renew the extended hours licenses of several bars that serve a gay clientele. Based on the meeting, the city will proceed with renewing these licenses. This will allow the bars to continue to remain open and serve alcohol after midnight. Staff’s initial intention was to try to address concerns about police calls and code violations by holding up the annual licenses. This was not the appropriate way to raise these matters with the establishments. The Police Department and the Code Enforcement Division will now work with the bar owners directly without targeting their licensing. Mayor Trantalis has consistently maintained that City Hall must be run in a business-friendly fashion. He also has long touted an appreciation for the city’s growing diversity. LGBT businesses and LGBT tourism are important components to our community, and Mayor Trantalis strives to ensure they are protected and nurtured. – Scott Wyman, Assistant to the Mayor

Once the center of nightlife in South Florida with well over a dozen gay bars, Fort Lauderdale now is the home to only five: Le Boy, Boardwalk, Mona’s, Slammers and the Ramrod.

ArtServe, Broward County’s largest non-profit arts service organization, regularly hosts traditional exhibitions inside its Fort Lauderdale gallery, but on July 19 from 6 to 10 p.m., the art and artists will spill into the neighboring parking lot and onto Sunrise Boulevard for the largest live multimedia art event of the year.

Who doesn’t LOVE a great burger? To me, there are three parts to dynamite burger; the buns, the meat, and the additions you choose. I like a lightly toasted bun, a nice thick, juicy piece of cooked meat, plenty of greens, a spicy Monterey jack cheese, and throw on some jalapenos, bacon, and a chipotle ranch dressing and you’ve got my perfect burger.

Gulf Stream Brewing Company is a craft brewery that opened 6 months ago in Fort Lauderdale on the revitalized area of 13thStreet. Even though the brewery has only been open a few months, owners McKay Ferrell and Ty Eriks have over 30 years of brewing experience between the two of them.

Donning heels and a wig isn’t necessarily actor and director Ed Sparan’s idea of fun, but it’s a labor of love when it comes to one of his favorite playwrights, Charles Busch. Sparan is directing and starring in a new production of Busch’s classic “Die, Mommie, Die!” opening this weekend at Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale.